ИДЕЯ КРЕСТОВОГО ПОХОДА В ПОЛИТИЧЕСКОЙ СТРАТЕГИИ НЕМЕЦКОГО ОРДЕНА РУБЕЖА XV/XVI ВВ.

Abstract

The crisis condition of the Order states in Prussia as a result of the German Order defeat in wars against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth of the 15th century, as well as the escalation of the Livonian-Russian confrontation, made actual the issue of external assistance to them from the Catholic powers of Europe. The order documentation of this period lay stress on the contributions of the Order during the conquest of Prussia and Livonia, as well as its role in the proselyting of local pagans and the creation of “crusader” states. The keynote for this was the pope’s decision to issue “crusader” indulgences (cruciate) to the good of the Catholic faith devotees, whose title was claimed by the supreme masters of the German Order and the masters of its Livonian branch. Positioning itself as defenders of the faith from enemies, the Turk and Russian “schismatics”, the government of the Order counted not only upon financial supplement, but also on preserving the status of the territorial lord of Prussia, which was disputed by Polish-Lithuanian sovereign rulers, for what it was necessary to prove the preservation of its original, “crusader” essentials in the changed conditions. By virtue of their dependence on Poland, the supreme masters were forced to give the pas in the fight against the Turks to Polish-Lithuanian sovereign rulers, and therefore, as a motivation for their “crusading” projects, they used the increased tensions of Livonian-Russian contacts and the fake idea of some “Russian threat” to the whole Catholic world. The main points of “crusading” appeals from the German Order was to provide it with assistance, first of all financial, with the full absence of a call for total military actions of Catholics against the Russians and for the indulgence attainment in its classic sense.